Adjusting apparatus for release member

ABSTRACT

An adjusting apparatus includes a driver, a drive shaft attached to the driver, an adjusting wheel, and a clipping member. The clipping member is engaged with the adjusting wheel. The adjusting wheel and the clipping member are configured to clamp a release member together. The adjusting wheel relative to the drive shaft has a first position and a second position. When the adjusting wheel is in the first position, the adjusting wheel is engaged with the drive shaft. The drive shaft with the clipping member and the release member are rotated by the driver together. When the adjusting wheel is in the second position, the adjusting wheel disengages from the drive shaft and is rotatable relative to the drive shaft rotating the release member. The release member is configured to push out merchandise.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to adjusting apparatuses, more particularly to an adjusting apparatus for a release member of a delivery tray in a vending machine.

2. Description of Related Art

Vending machines allow customers to buy merchandise, such as bottled water, boxed tissues or assorted snacks, twenty-four hours a day. The vending machine includes a delivery tray. The delivery tray includes a plurality of separated plates. A plurality of passages is defined between the separated plates for the merchandise to pass through. A release member is often located in each of the plurality of passages. When the customer retrieves the merchandise from the vending machine, a driver moves the release member to push the merchandise out of the passage. To ensure the merchandise drops to a suitable location, an original position of the release member needs to be adjusted. However, when adjusting the original position of the release member, all of the release member, the driver, and the plurality of separated plates need to be detached from the delivery tray, which is inconvenient.

Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Many aspects of the embodiments can be better understood with references to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the embodiments. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is an exploded, isometric, cutaway view of an embodiment of an adjusting apparatus and a delivery tray.

FIG. 2 is an exploded, cutaway view of the adjusting apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a driver, a mounting box and a system command module of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an assembled, cutaway view of the adjusting apparatus of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is an assembled, cutaway view of the adjusting apparatus and the delivery tray of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional, cutaway view of FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The disclosure is illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean at least one.

FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate an adjusting apparatus and a delivery tray 90 of a vending machine in accordance with an embodiment. The adjusting apparatus includes a mounting box 10; a driver 20 secured to the mounting box 10, a drive shaft 30, a system command module 40, an adjusting wheel 60, a clipping member 70, a resilient member 80, and a positioning member 50. In one embodiment, the driver 20 is a motor, and the resilient member 80 is a compression spring.

The mounting box 10 defines a mounting hole 11 and a sliding slot 13 adjacent to the mounting hole 11. The drive shaft 30 defines a positioning hole 31 adjacent to a front end of the drive shaft 30. A plurality of racks 33 are located on the drive shaft 30, for engaging with the adjusting wheel 60.

The system command module 40 includes a touching block 41 secured to the drive shaft 30, a sensor switch 43 engaged with the touching block 41, and a resisting member 45 engaged with the sensor switch 43. The touching block 41 includes a touching surface 411 and a pressing surface 413 connected to the touching surface 411. The sensor switch 43 defines a first receiving hole 431 and a second receiving hole 433. In one embodiment, the sensor switch 43 is a rectangle, and the first receiving hole 431 and the second receiving hole 433 are arranged at a diagonal of the rectangle. A sensor portion 435 is secured to the sensor switch 43. A resilient spring 47 surrounds the resisting member 45.

The adjusting wheel 60 includes a mounting portion 61 and a plurality of stopping blocks 63 located on the mounting portion 61. The plurality of stopping blocks 63 protrude from an outer surface of the mounting portion 61. The mounting portion 61 is substantially a column and defines a mounting hole 611 for engaging with the plurality of racks 33. A ring limiting slot 613, corresponding to the resilient member 80, is defined in an inside of the mounting portion 61. The mounting portion 61 defines a plurality of cutouts 615.

The clipping member 70 includes a receiving portion 71 and a plurality of hooks 73 located on the receiving portion 71. The receiving portion 71 is substantially a hollow column The plurality of hooks 73, corresponding to the plurality of stopping blocks 63, protrude from an outer surface of the receiving portion 71. A plurality of limiting tabs 711; corresponding to the plurality of cutouts 615, extend from the receiving portion 71 towards the adjusting wheel 60.

Referring to FIG. 1, the delivery tray 90 includes a side plate 93 and a plurality of separated plates 91. A through hole 931 is defined in the side plate 93.

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate an assembly of the adjusting apparatus and the delivery tray in accordance with an embodiment. In assembly, a first shaft 48 is engaged in the first receiving hole 431 and the mounting hole 11, to rotatably secure the sensor switch 43 to the mounting box 10. A second shaft 49 extends through the second receiving hole 433 and is slidably received in the sliding slot 13. The resilient spring 47 surrounds the resisting member 45. The resisting member 45 is slanted relative to the mounting box 10 and extends through the mounting box 10, to abut the sensor switch 43. A fixing member 15 is engaged with the resisting member 45 preventing the resisting member 45 from disengaging from the mounting box 10. A first end of the resilient spring 47 is secured to the mounting box 10. A second end of the resilient spring 47 is secured to a head of the resisting member 45. Therefore, the system command module 40 is secured to the mounting box 10.

The mounting box 10 is located outside of the side plate 93, and the drive shaft 30 extends through the through hole 931. The mounting box 10 is secured to the side plate 81 by means well known in the art, such as screws. The drive shaft 30 extends through the mounting hole 611 to engage the adjusting wheel 60 with the plurality of racks 33. A release member 100 is hung on the mounting portion 61 of the adjusting wheel 60. In one embodiment, the release member 100 is spring. The resilient member 80 surrounds on the drive shaft 30, and one end of the resilient member 80 is engaged in the ring limiting slot 613. The positioning member 50 is engaged in the positioning hole 31 of the drive shaft 30 to block another end of the resilient member 80, so that the resilient member 80 is resiliently deformed to abut the adjusting wheel 60 for preventing the adjusting wheel 60 from disengaging from the plurality of racks 33. Each of the plurality of hooks 73 are engaged with each of the plurality of stopping blocks 63, and each of the limiting tabs 711 is engaged in each of the plurality of cutouts 615. The receiving portion 71 of the clipping member 70 closely abuts the mounting portion 61 of the adjusting wheel 60 to clamp the release member 100 together. The positioning member 50 is received in the receiving portion 71 of the clipping member 70 for preventing disengagement from the positioning hole 31 of the drive shaft 30. In one embodiment, an inner diameter of the receiving portion 71 is greater than a length of the positioning member 50.

An engaging member 300 is secured on the drive shaft 30. A passage 200 is received in the release member 100, and one end of the passage 200 is hung on the engaging member 300.

In use, a circle rotated command from a system of the vending machine, is sent to the driver 20. The driver 20 starts to work to rotate the drive shaft 30. The drive shaft 30 rotates the release member 100 so that the release member 100 pushes merchandise along the passage 200, until the merchandise disengages from the delivery tray 90. When the drive shaft 30 is rotated and the pressing surface 413 abuts the sensor portion 435, the sensor switch 43 is rotated about the first shaft 48 in a first direction, and the second shaft 49 is slid in the sliding slot 13. Simultaneously, the sensor switch 43 urges the resisting member 45 to deform the resilient spring 47. When the pressing surface 413 passes through the sensor switch 43 and the touching surface 411 abuts the sensor portion 435, the sensor switch 43 is rotated about the first shaft 48 in a second direction opposite to the first direction. The second shaft 49 is slid in the sliding slot 13. The resilient spring 47 is released. The sensor portion 435 senses the drive shaft 30 has been rotated in a circle and can send a signal to the system of the vending machine.

When an original position of the release member 100 needs to be adjusted, an acting force is applied to pull the adjusting wheel 60 along the axis of the drive shaft 30 to a second position where the adjusting wheel 60 is disengaged from the plurality of racks 33, and the resilient member 80 is elastically deformed. The adjusting wheel 60 relative to the drive shaft 30 is rotatable to rotate the release member 100. After adjusting the release member 100, the adjusting wheel 60 is released, the resilient member 80 elastically rebounds to push the adjusting wheel 60 to move along the axis of the drive shaft 30, until the adjusting wheel 60 is in the first position where is engaged with the plurality of racks 33.

It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages have been set forth in the foregoing description of embodiments, together with details of the structures and functions of the embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An adjusting apparatus comprising: a driver; a drive shaft attached to the driver; an adjusting wheel; and a clipping member, the clipping member being engaged with the adjusting wheel, the adjusting wheel and the clipping member being configured to cooperatively clamp a release member; wherein the adjusting wheel is movable between a first position and a second position relative to the drive shaft; when the adjusting wheel is in the first position, the adjusting wheel is engaged with the drive shaft, and the drive shaft, the adjusting wheel and the release member are rotated by the driver together; when the adjusting wheel is in the second position, the adjusting wheel is disengaged from the drive shaft and the adjusting wheel is rotatable relative to the drive shaft to rotate the release member; and the release member is configured to push out a merchandise retained therein when the adjusting wheel is in the first position.
 2. The adjusting apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a resilient member, wherein the resilient member surrounds the drive shaft, and when the adjusting wheel is in the second position, the resilient member biases the adjusting wheel to move from the second position to the first position.
 3. The adjusting apparatus of claim 2 further comprising a positioning member, wherein the positioning member is engaged in the drive shaft, and the resilient member is located between the adjusting wheel and the positioning member.
 4. The adjusting apparatus of claim 3, wherein the drive shaft defines a positioning hole, the positioning member is engaged in the positioning hole, and the clipping member comprises a receiving portion configured to receive the positioning member and to prevent the positioning member from disengaging from the positioning hole.
 5. The adjusting apparatus of claim 4, wherein the receiving portion is substantially cylinder-shaped, and an inner diameter of the receiving portion is greater than a length of the positioning member.
 6. The adjusting apparatus of claim 4, wherein the adjusting wheel comprises a mounting portion, a plurality of stopping blocks protrude from the mounting portion, a plurality of hooks are located on the receiving portion, each of the plurality of hooks is engaged with each of the plurality of stopping blocks, and the receiving portion abuts the mounting portion for clamping the release member.
 7. The adjusting apparatus of claim 6, wherein the mounting portion defines a plurality of cutouts, a plurality of limiting tabs extend from the receiving portion, and each of the plurality of limiting tabs is engaged in each of the plurality of cutouts for preventing the clipping member from disengaging from the adjusting wheel.
 8. The adjusting apparatus of claim 1, wherein a plurality of racks are located on the drive shaft, when the adjusting wheel is in the first position, the adjusting wheel is meshed with the plurality of racks; when the adjusting wheel is in the second position, and the adjusting wheel is disengaged from the plurality of racks.
 9. The adjusting apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a touching block and a sensor switch, wherein the touching block is secured to the drive shaft and comprises a touching surface, and the driver stops rotating the drive shaft and the adjusting wheel when the touching surface contacts with the sensor switch.
 10. The adjusting apparatus of claim 9, wherein the touching block further comprises a pressing surface, the driver biases the drive shaft and the adjusting wheel to rotate when the pressing surface contacts with the sensor switch.
 11. An adjusting apparatus comprising: a driver; a drive shaft attached to the driver; an adjusting wheel being engaged with the drive shaft; and a clipping member, the clipping member being engaged with the adjusting wheel, the adjusting wheel and the clipping member being configured to clamp a release member together; wherein the drive shaft, the adjusting wheel and the release member are rotated by the driver together; the adjusting wheel is rotatable to rotate the release member relative to the drive shaft when the adjusting wheel is disengaged from the drive shaft, and the release member is configured to push out a merchandise retained therein when the adjusting wheel is engaged with the drive shaft.
 12. The adjusting apparatus of claim 11 further comprising a resilient member, wherein the resilient member surrounds the drive shaft, and when the adjusting wheel is disengaged from the drive shaft, the resilient member biases the adjusting wheel to move to engage with the drive shaft.
 13. The adjusting apparatus of claim 12 further comprising a positioning member, wherein the positioning member is engaged in the drive shaft, and the resilient member is located between the adjusting wheel and the positioning member.
 14. The adjusting apparatus of claim 13, wherein the drive shaft defines a positioning hole, the positioning member is engaged in the positioning hole, and the clipping member comprises a receiving portion configured to receive the positioning member, and to prevent the positioning member from disengaging from the positioning hole.
 15. The adjusting apparatus of claim 14, wherein the receiving portion is substantially cylinder-shaped, and an inner diameter of the receiving portion is greater than a length of the positioning member.
 16. The adjusting apparatus of claim 14, wherein the adjusting wheel comprises a mounting portion, a plurality of stopping blocks protrude from the mounting portion, a plurality of hooks are located on the receiving portion, each of the plurality of hooks is engaged with each of the plurality of stopping blocks, and the receiving portion abuts the mounting portion for clamping the release member.
 17. The adjusting apparatus of claim 16, wherein the mounting portion defines a plurality of cutouts, a plurality of limiting tabs extend from the receiving portion, and each of the plurality of limiting tabs is engaged in each of the plurality of cutouts for preventing the clipping member from disengaging from the adjusting wheel.
 18. The adjusting apparatus of claim 11, wherein a plurality of racks are located on the drive shaft, the adjusting wheel is meshed with the plurality of racks when the adjusting member is engaged with the drive shaft; and the adjusting wheel is disengaged from the plurality of racks when the adjusting member is disengaged from the drive shaft.
 19. The adjusting apparatus of claim 11 further comprising a touching block and a sensor switch, wherein the touching block is secured to the drive shaft and comprises a touching surface, and the driver stops rotating the drive shaft and the adjusting wheel when touching surface contacts with the sensor switch.
 20. The adjusting apparatus of claim 9, wherein the touching block further comprises a pressing surface, and the driver biases the drive shaft and the adjusting wheel to rotate when the pressing surface contacts with the sensor switch. 